Uncoiler apparatus and method for uncoiling wound sheet metal webs

ABSTRACT

An uncoiler apparatus is provided for the facilitated handling and paying out of successive ones of a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web. The uncoiler apparatus includes a vertically and laterally movable spindle, which has an expandable mandrel for gripping and supporting the mult coil being unwound. The uncoiler further includes a deck for supporting the mult coils that are awaiting uncoiling and an apparatus for laterally displacing the mult coils in successive fashion to a position where they are successively gripped and supported by the spindle. A method for uncoiling a mult coil is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. The Technical Field

The present invention relates to apparatus for the handling, paying out,coiling and/or uncoiling of wound sheet metal webs and methods foruncoiling wound sheet metal webs using such apparatus.

2. The Prior Art

In order to facilitate the handling and transportation of flat stripsheet metal material, continuous sheet metal webs are typically woundinto coils, after having been cast in a continuous casting process.Typically, the metal web has a width which is several multiples of thewidths of the sheet metal strips that are used In the ultimatefabrication processes to which the sheet metal strips are subjected. Theindividual strips, into which a whole- or half-width coil is cut, areoften called “mults” in the art, in particular when the several multsare still arranged side-by-side as a unit.

When the wound metal webs are delivered to a fabricator, the metal webmust be unwound before any further fabrication processes can be appliedto it.

Apparatus for the uncoiling of wound sheet metal webs are known in theprior art. Examples of such uncoiling apparatus include: Rogers, U.S.Pat. No. 4,191,318; Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,985; and Rogers, U.S.Pat. No. 4,304,371.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,318 discloses a breakaway uncoiler forunwinding a wound sheet metal web. The uncoiler has arcuate expandersections and a motor driven piston, which cooperate to break thefrangible connection between adjacent individual coils. The entire wholeunbroken coil must be supported on a cylindrical spindle, and as eachsuccessive “mult” is separated, uncoiled and exhausted, the remainingpartial coil is indexed over by a pusher unit, until the next “mult” isaligned with the separator and strip receiving components of theapparatus. In order for a new whole- (or half-) width coil to be mountedonto the apparatus, the last mult of the prior coil must be exhausted.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,985 discloses a strip separator and payoutdevice which has a frame telescopically receiving the coil, and amounted rotatable spinner which separates individual coil strips (mults)from adjacent coil portions. This construction is similar to, but asomewhat simplified version of, the device in Rogers, U.S. Pat. No.4,191,318.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,371 discloses another apparatus for theremoval of a sheet metal strip from a wound sheet metal web. Theapparatus uses the fracture of spaced tabs across parting lines betweenadjacent coil strips (mults) on the wound sheet metal web.

Each of these devices is configured for separating adjacent mults, whenthere are scores, perforations or the like separating otherwisesubstantially still connected adjacent coils in a wound sheet metal web.

It is not uncommon for such multiple-width wound metal webs to be fullyseparated into their constituent mults, at the time of delivery to afabricator, or at least prior to the ultimate uncoiling procedure.However, it is inefficient to have an uncoiler apparatus that isconfigured to hold just one mult at a time, when the bulk and weight ofthe coils are taken into consideration.

Apparatus for holding and uncoiling a plurality of already separated“mults” or “mult coils” that were previously part of a whole-width orhalf-width coil are known in the art. One such prior art device that isbelieved to have been used is essentially a heavy-duty turnstile-typeuncoller, having two, or perhaps more spindles mounted on a rotatablehub. In this application, a plurality of mult coils would be placed oneach spindle. The entire turnstile, in turn, would be mounted on a basethat is capable of laterally traversing a distance that would be atleast as far as the width of a single mult coil, up to potentially adistance equal to the total number of mult coils that a single one ofthe spindles could carry. Apparatus for peeling off a strip from one ofthe mult coils would then be placed in a fixed position, to receive thestrip off of whichever mult coil was aligned with it at the time. As amult coil would be completely uncoiled, the turnstile would then beindexed laterally, to bring the next mult coil to be uncoiled intoalignment with the strip-peeling and receiving apparatus. When an entirerow, or horizontal stack, of mult coils were completely uncoiled off ofthe particular spindle, then the turnstile would rotatably index either180 degrees (if there were only two diametrically opposed spindles), orwhichever number of degrees would then bring the next spindle's worth ofmult coils to be uncoiled into alignment with the strip-peeling andreceiving apparatus. The spindle that had just been emptied could thenbe reloaded with another horizontal “stack” of mult coils, towardkeeping the apparatus as fully occupied as possible, toward, in turn,keeping the production run as uninterrupted as possible.

Such a prior art device has certain characteristics that might be deemedinappropriate for certain applications, however. For example, in orderto bear the weight of a plurality of mult coils, on two or morespindles, requires the uncoller to be very heavily built, which in turn,usually translates into substantially Increased cost, not only in termsof the uncoller apparatus itself, but also associated costs, such asthat associated with the construction of the base or floor structurethat must support the aggregated weight of the uncoller, in a fullyloaded condition. Further, because the turnstile uncoiler would also berequired to traverse laterally, the overall “footprint” that must bededicated to the uncoiler can be substantial, and can substantiallyincrease the amount of floor space that the entire fabricating facilityrequires. Furthermore, any given spindle on such a device can only bereloaded, once that spindle has been exhausted, and rotatably indexed toa suitable reloading position. This can lead to undesirable “gaps” inthe production run, in terms of overall downtime of the machinerydownstream of the uncoiler, while it is being reloaded, and also interms of idling of manpower, at those downstream positions in theproduction line.

It would be desirable to provide an uncoiler apparatus which is capableof handling and successively uncoiling a plurality of adjacentlydisposed, already fully separated mult coils.

It would further be desirable to provide an uncoiler apparatus which iscapable of handling fully separated, adjacently arranged mult coils,while optimizing the amount of floor space that is required for theapparatus.

It would still further be desirable to provide such an uncoilerapparatus, which is configured to be able to be loaded, even while amult coil is being uncoiled, in such a way as to reduce or effectivelyeliminate production “gaps”.

These and other desirable characteristics of the invention will becomeapparent in view of the present specification, including claims, anddrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus for supporting, handlingand uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of woundsheet metal web material. A static support structure receives andsupports a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheetmetal web material. A spindle structure is laterally displaced from thestatic support structure. The spindle structure is operably configuredto receive and grippingly, and rotatably support a mult coil of woundsheet metal web material. A pusher is operably interposed between thestatic support structure and the spindle structure, and further operablyconfigured to push one or more mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial, from the static support structure, toward the spindlestructure.

The static support structure preferably comprises a V-deck structure.The V-deck structure preferably comprises two elongated planar surfacesdisposed in a V-configuration with respect to one another. Each of theelongated planar surfaces preferably further includes an elongatedinsert fabricated from a material having a reduced coefficient offriction, relative to surrounding portions of the elongated planarsurfaces.

The spindle structure preferably includes a spindle having alongitudinal axis which extends in a direction toward the static supportstructure. The spindle is preferably configured to be movedlongitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Thespindle is also preferably configured to be rotated about thelongitudinal axis. The spindle is also preferably configured to be movedvertically, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The spindle preferably includes a spindle mandrel which is operablyconfigured to grippingly engage inside surfaces of an opening in a multcoil of wound sheet metal material.

The uncoller apparatus further preferably comprises an apparatus forengaging and lifting a leading edge, and then subsequent portions of, amult coil of wound sheet metal web material, away from remaining, stillwound portions of the mult coil, toward redirecting the web materialalong a desired path.

The present invention also comprises in part a method for supporting,handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coilsof wound sheet metal web material, using an apparatus for supporting,handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mults ofwound sheet metal web material, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material on astatic support structure, operably configured for receiving andsupporting a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheetmetal web material;

providing a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the staticsupport structure, which spindle structure is operably configured toreceive and grippingly, and rotatably, support a mult coil of woundsheet metal web material;

aligning the spindle structure with an axis of rotation of the at leastone mult coil of wound sheet metal web material;

pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material,with a pusher, operably interposed between the static support structureand the spindle structure, until the at least one mult coil of woundsheet metal web material has been pushed onto the spindle structure;

gripping the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web materialwith the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, so as to elevate the at least one multcoil of wound sheet metal web material above the static supportstructure;

rotating the spindle structure, so as to enable the at least one multcoil of wound sheet metal web material to be unwound;

unwinding the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material.

The step of placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial on a static support structure, preferably comprises placingsimultaneously a plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial on the static support structure.

The step of pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial, with a pusher, preferably comprises simultaneously pushing theplurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web material toward thespindle, until a first one of the mult coils has been pushed onto thespindle structure.

The method preferably further comprises the steps of:

lowering the spindle structure, after a mult coil has been unwound andexhausted, so as to align the spindle structure with a subsequent multcoil positioned on the static support structure nearest to the spindlestructure;

pushing the remaining mult coils on the static support structure towardthe spindle structure until the subsequent mult coil positioned on thestatic support structure nearest to the spindle structure has beenpushed onto the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, and unwinding the subsequent mult coil.

The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:

successively unwinding each one of the plurality of mult coils that havebeen loaded onto the static support structure, until a last one of themult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure and raised;

moving the pusher to a position distal to the spindle structure;

reloading the apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling asuccession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial, by placing at least one mult coil onto the static supportstructure, while a last one of a previous load of mult coils is beingunwound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the uncoiler apparatus according to apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the uncoiler apparatus according to apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the uncoiler apparatus taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the coil supporting spindle.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the cradle and coil feed portion of theuncoiler apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the cradle and coil feed portion of theuncoiler apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of an enlarged view of the verticaladjustment mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of an enlarged view of the verticaladjustment mechanism.

DERAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail, a preferred embodiment with the understanding that the presentdisclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiment so illustrated.

To the extent that any measurements or other numerical values aredescribed herein or illustrated in the Figures, they are provided forillustrative purposes only, and the invention is not intended to belimited thereby.

In the terminology of the art of coil slitting, a wound strip metalmaterial construct, which has a width which is several multiples of thewidth of a strip such as are conventionally used in metal forming ormetalworking operations, is referred to as a coil. The individual widthsof material into which a coil is slit, which widths may subsequently berewound, are known as “mults” or, for the purposes of this application,“mult coils”, to distinguish them from whole- or half-width coils. Forthe purposes of the present disclosure, the wound strip metal materialconstructs being handled by the apparatus and via the method of thepresent invention may sometimes be referred to hereinafter as “mults”when they are still arranged side-by-side as a unit, in the sameconfiguration as when they were a single contiguous coil, and as “multcoils” when separated into individual units. The present invention,strictly speaking, is intended for the successive receipt, handling andunwinding (“uncoiling”) of mult coils which have been derived from awhole- or other fractional-width coil; however, it is to be understoodthat the concept can be applied to wound masses of strip metal materialwhich may have not been obtained originally from the same initial widecoil of material, but which may have come from different sources, butare still being handled in a successive manner by the apparatus.

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Uncollerapparatus 5 includes a spindle assembly 10 and a cradle and pusherassembly 12. In one embodiment of the invention, these two assembliesmay be connected on a common contiguous frame; in an alternativeembodiment of the invention, they may be supported by separate discreteframes, but maintained in fixed relation to one another by way of bothbeing permanently fixed in place to the floor of the workshop or factoryin which they are being used.

Uncoiler apparatus 5, while presently contemplated as being suited foruse in roll-forming fabrication lines, is also believed to be adaptablefor use in other applications, such as cut-to-length stampingoperations, etc., by those of ordinary skill in the art, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Spindle assembly 10 includes framework 14, and spindle 16. Spindle 16,in turn, includes hydraulic cylinder 18, piston 28, rotation motor 22(connected via a suitable drive chain, such as a sprocket and chain, orgearing, to rotate spindle 16 about a longitudinal axis extendingconcentrically along piston 28), spindle traverse motor 24 (for movingthe spindle back and forth along the aforementioned longitudinal axis).Spindle mandrel 26 is configured to be expandable from a radiallyinwardly disposed release position and a radially outwardly disposedgripping and support position. Hydraulic cylinder 18 drives piston 28,on the end of which is mounted linkage head 30 to which the radiallyinwardly positioned ends of four links 32 are pivotably mounted. Theradially outwardly positioned ends of links 32 are in turn connected tofour chucks 34 which are slidably mounted in spindle flange 36.Accordingly, when cylinder 18 is actuated to move piston 28 to the right(as seen in FIG. 3), then links 32 drive chucks 34 radially outwardly,and if spindle mandrel 26 has been brought up against the side of a multcoil 38 (FIG. 1), then upon expansion, chucks 34 will bear against theinside circumferential surface of the mult coil and grip it.

Such spindle constructions (configured to radially grip the insidediameter of a coil or of a mult coil) are known, per se, in the priorart. Accordingly, the specific details of the mechanisms of spindleassembly 10 would be readily apprehended by one of ordinary skill in theart having the present disclosure before them, and so illustrations ofsuch particular mechanisms have been omitted as being unnecessary for acomplete understanding of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the cradle and pusher assembly 12. Cradleportion 40 includes V-deck 42 which in turn includes two slidingsurfaces 44, arranged in a V-formation, preferably at an included angleof 120°±10°. Each sliding surface 44 includes a longitudinally extendingchrome inserts 46 to reduce the sliding friction between slidingsurfaces 44 and the outer surfaces of several mult coils (which multcoils may cumulatively weigh as much as 60,000 pounds—one standardcoils' worth of mult coils).

Pentagon-shaped pusher plate 48 is connected, e.g., by lead screw (orsimilarly-functioning) mechanism 51, to pusher motor 52. It has beenestimated that for 60 k lbs. of steel mult coils, a lateral force on theorder of 12 k lbs. will be required in order to slide the mult coilsalong V-deck 42 until they are successively presented to spindle mandrel26. Preferably, pusher motor 52 will be a hydraulic motor, with 10 hpbeing believed to be sufficient to requirements in such an installation.

Pusher plate 48 is mounted on a suitably configured track for movementabove and between the sliding surfaces 44 of V-deck 42. For example,V-deck preferably will including inwardly laterally projecting flanges41, which project from stationary rails 47 that may be welded betweenV-deck plate sliding surfaces 44. Pusher plate 48, in turn, will haveaffixed to it two downwardly projecting flanges 42, from whichcam-rollers 45 extend laterally outwardly. Since, as can be seen in FIG.6, lead screw 51 is positioned off-center, relative to the centers ofgravity of the mult coils that would be carried by V-deck 42,cam-rollers 45 are provided to bear the moment load thus created, whenthe lead screw is turning.

It may be desirable to enable the spindle to adjust vertically, tofacilitate insertion of the spindle mandrel Into the core openings inthe mult coils, depending upon the diameter of the mult coil beingunwound. Accordingly, spindle 16 will be mounted at the top of anotherlead screw assembly 54, driven (typically via a sprocket and chainassembly 57) by vertical lift motor 56 (also preferably a hydraulicmotor). FIGS. 7 and 8 provide enlarged views of the vertical adjustmentmechanism. Motor 56, connected preferably by a chain and sprocket,drives assembly 54, which, in turn, is connected to supporting frame 58,which supports spindle 16.

Uncoiler 5 also includes a mechanism for facilitating the actualunwinding of the mult coil. Magnetic belt mechanism 60 (FIG. 1) includesa pivotably-mounted magnetic thread-up belt 62, which when placed incontact with the outside surface of the steel mult coil, serves to holddown the leading end of the mult coil, until the leading end has beengripped and controlled by whatever downstream apparatus are in place tohandle and work on the strip, and lifts the leading edge of the stripaway from the mult coil, so that as the mult coil unwinds, the mult coilis guided to an orientation that is at an angle away from the mult coil.

Belt 62 simply rests on the outside diameter of the coil, until theleading edge has been gripped by downstream processing machinery (notshown). Belt 62 is placed in position O, when a mult coil is beinglaterally shoved into position on the spindle.

Belt 62 may be power-driven, and even synchronized to the speed of thestrip as it peels off from the mult coil, though this may increase thecost of construction of uncoiler 5, because of the additional motors,sensors and control apparatus necessary to provide propulsion of belt 62and/or synchronization of the belt speed with the surface speed of themult coil. In alternatively preferred embodiments of the invention,however, belt 62 will be unpowered, but permitted to “freewheel” alongwith the surface of the unpeeling mult coil strip, being pulled along bythe magnetic attraction and friction between the belt and the uncoilingstrip.

Magnetic thread-up belt 62 will usually be sufficient for lifting offthe leading edge of the mult coil, when light to medium gauge (typicallyabout 32 gauge or about 0.010 inches, for bare steel or 0.013 inches forgalvanized, to about 10 gauge or about 0.130 inches thickness) mult coilis being uncoiled.

However, when heavier gauge metal is been uncoiled, a downstream peelertable (not shown) may be used in addition to or alternatively to, themagnetic belt. Such peeler tables are well known in the prior art andtypically include a table which is pivotable from a lowered position, toa raised position, to “meet” the leading edge of the mult coil as it islifted off. The table may also be configured to be extendable in length.The peeler table may also include two vertically spaced “pinch” rollers,configured to “grip” the leading edge of the mult coil.

Usually, once the leading edge has been gripped by the downstreamforming equipment, belt 62 is usually raised back up to position O, toenable the next mult coil to be gripped by the spindle. In somecircumstances, however, it may be desirable to maintain belt 62 incontact with the outer surface of the mult coil continuously, such aswhen heavier gauge metal strips are being uncoiled, which can sometimesbreak free and whip around dangerously. Another reason it may bedesirable to keep the belt in place on the mult coil, would be toprovide back tension on the mult strip as it is being paid out. The beltapparatus 60 could be provided with braking structures (as are wellknown in the art), to exert a slowing frictional force on the strip. Analternative method for creating back tension would be to put a frictionbrake in the drive structure of the spindle itself (not shown).

When a non-magnetic metal strip, e.g., made of stainless steel oraluminum, is being uncoiled, magnetic belt 62 may be replaced by analternative lift-off device, such as a vacuum-applying device (notshown).

All of the devices disclosed herein are, in preferred embodiments of theinvention, contemplated as being “manually” operated using controldevices and/or control techniques, which are generally known by those ofordinary skill in the art, and so the control devices have been omittedfrom the illustrations as being unnecessary for a complete understandingof the invention by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, itis believed that the apparatus and method of the present Invention maybe adapted for automatic control and operation, depending upon thenature of the production line and processes being applied to the stripmaterial downstream of the uncoller. Such automatic controls mightincorporate devices such as optical or other sensors to determine when amult coil is about to be exhausted, and limited switches for determiningthe position of the V-deck along its path of movement.

A preferred mode of operation of the uncoiler of the present invention(making reference to FIGS. 1-8) is as follows:

1. Several separated, horizontally stacked mult coils 38 are placed onV-deck 42. At this stage, pusher plate 48 is preferably at its greatestdistance from spindle 16.

2. Spindle 16 is lowered or raised, as appropriate, so that mandrel 30is approximately centered with respect to the center of the mult coil,and chucks 34 are moved radially inwardly, if not already in theirradially inwardmost positions. Often, the mult coils are coded, orotherwise associated with information that indicates the physicalparameters of the mult coil. This information can be fed into thecontrols for the uncoiler, so that the uncoiler will then be able todetermine the approximate position of the central axis of the mult coil,towards appropriately vertically positioning the spindle. Alternatively,once the mult coil is in place on the V-deck, a device, such as the armof the magnetic belt, may be pivoted down, and by noting the position ofthe arm, the outside diameter, and, in turn, the approximate position ofthe axis of the mult coil, can be calculated by the control apparatus.

3. The magnetic belt (62, 62′) is swung upwardly a sufficient amount ofclearance (position O) over the upper surface of the mult coil isattained.

4. Pusher motor 56 is actuated, and the entire “stack” of mult coils Ismoved toward the left (from the viewpoint of FIG. 1), until the leftmostmult coil is pushed adjacent to, and then over mandrel 30.

5. Mandrel cylinder 20 is actuated and moves to the right, causingchucks 34 to move outwardly until they bear against the inside surfaceof the mult coil.

6. Spindle 16 is raised, as appropriate, so that mandrel 30 and in turn,the mult coil borne thereon, is lifted clear of V-deck 42.

7. The magnetic belt 62, 62′ is lowered until it is in contact with theupper surface of the mult coil.

8. Rotation motor 22 is actuated, and mult coil 38 is rotatedcounterclockwise (from the point of view of FIGS. 2 or 9).

9. The leading edge of the strip is lifted away from the mult coil bythe magnetic belt, and guided, e.g., via peeler table station 70, intothe desired pass line orientation, toward the successive workstations(not shown) where the strip is actually worked.

10. When the mult coil 38 that is being unwound has been exhausted,spindle 16 is lowered and re-aligned with the approximate center of axisof the next mult coil in line. Typically, since all the mult coils in agiven production run will be approximately, if not nearly exactly thesame diameter, the spindle will usually be lowered to the same verticalposition it had for the last mult coil it picked up. Pusher motor 52will be activated, and the horizontal stack of mult coils will befurther indexed one mult coil over to the left, toward spindle 16, andthe process will be repeated.

11. As the last mult coil in the particular group is being unwound,pusher motor 52 reverses itself, to move pusher plate 48 back to itsmost distal position relative to spindle 16, to permit a new set of multcoils to be loaded onto V-deck 42.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize, the relativesequencing of some of the foregoing steps may be varied slightly whilestill accomplishing the goals of the invention, without departing fromthe scope thereof. For example, some steps may occur sequentially orsimultaneously, such as steps 2-4 may be performed more or lesssimultaneously, as can steps 7 and 8.

The present invention is believed to provide for an uncoller apparatusthat is configured to provide for the efficient, and potentiallysubstantially uninterrupted supply of uncoiled strip metal, for supplyto downstream metal working or forming machinery. By being able toprovide for a substantially continuous supply of material, with the onlygaps being the time required to move a mult coil from the V-deck to thespindle, and then begin the initial uncoiling and threading of theleading edge into the downstream strip handling and working equipment,substantial gains in speed and output are believed to be attained.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate theinvention, and the invention is not so limited as those skilled in theart who have the disclosure before them will be able to makemodifications and variations therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

1. An apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession ofhorizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material,comprising: a static support structure for receiving and supporting aplurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial; a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the staticsupport structure, the spindle structure being operably configured toreceive and grippingly, and rotatably support a mult coil of wound sheetmetal web material; and a pusher operably interposed between the staticsupport structure and the spindle structure, and further operablyconfigured to push one ore more mult 10 coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial, from the static support structure, toward the spindlestructure.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the staticsupport structure comprises a V-deck structure.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the V-deck structure comprises twoelongated planar surfaces disposed in a V-configuration with respect toone another.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of theelongated planar surfaces further includes an elongated insertfabricated from a material having a reduced coefficient of friction,relative to surrounding portions of the elongated planar surfaces. 5.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spindle structureincludes a spindle having a longitudinal axis which extends in adirection toward the static support structure.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the spindle is configured to be movedlongitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spindle is configured to berotated about the longitudinal axis.
 8. The apparatus according to claim5, wherein the spindle is configured to be moved vertically, in adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the spindle includes a spindle mandrelwhich is operably configured to grippingly engage inside surfaces of anopening in a mult coil of wound sheet metal material.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for engaging andlifting a leading edge, and then subsequent portions of, a mult coil ofwound sheet metal web material, away from remaining, still woundportions of the mult coil, toward redirecting the web material along adesired path.
 11. A method for supporting, handling and uncoiling asuccession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial, using an apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling asuccession of horizontally stacked mults of wound sheet metal webmaterial, the method comprising the steps of: placing at least one multcoil of wound sheet metal web material on a static support structure,operably configured for receiving and supporting a plurality ofhorizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material;providing a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the staticsupport structure, which spindle structure is operably configured toreceive and grippingly, and rotatably, support a mult coil of woundsheet metal web material; aligning the spindle structure with an axis ofrotation of the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial; pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial, with a pusher, operably interposed between the static supportstructure and the spindle structure, until the at least one mult coil ofwound sheet metal web material has been pushed onto the spindlestructure; gripping the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial with the spindle structure; raising the spindle structure, soas to elevate the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal webmaterial above the static support structure; rotating the spindlestructure, so as to enable the at least one mult coil of wound sheetmetal web material to be unwound; unwinding the at least one mult coilof wound sheet metal web material.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein the step of placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metalweb material on a static support structure, comprises placingsimultaneously a plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial on the static support structure.
 13. The method according toclaim 12, wherein the step of pushing the at least one mult coil ofwound sheet metal web material, with a pusher, comprises simultaneouslypushing the plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web materialtoward the spindle, until a first one of the mult coils has been pushedonto the spindle structure.
 14. The method according to claim 13,further comprising the steps of: lowering the spindle structure, after amult coil has been unwound and exhausted, so as to align the spindlestructure with a subsequent mult coil positioned on the static supportstructure nearest to the spindle structure; pushing the remaining multcoils on the static support structure toward the spindle structure untilthe subsequent mult coil positioned on the static support structurenearest to the spindle structure has been pushed onto the spindlestructure; raising the spindle structure, and unwinding the subsequentmult coil.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising thestep of: successively unwinding each one of the plurality of mult coilsthat have been loaded onto the static support structure, until a lastone of the mult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure andraised; moving the pusher to a position distal to the spindle structure;reloading the apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling asuccession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal webmaterial, by placing at least one mult coil onto the static supportstructure, while a last one of a previous load of mult coils is beingunwound.